Web Designer job Outlook

Web design skills are more desirable today than they have ever been before - and that is not likely to change anytime soon. Whether you are a large corporation, a small family-run company, a non-profit organization, a politician, a school, government agency, or any other kind of company or organization, it is almost certain that you need a website. This, of course, means you also need web designers to create or maintain those websites.

By understanding what skills are projected to be in-demand in the years to come (as well as which ones are most desirable today), you can help give yourself a better chance of starting a rewarding career in the web design industry.

Regarding the Term "Web Designer"

The label of "web designer" is somewhat of a catch-all phrase. In truth, there are several different jobs that fall under the general umbrella of "web designer." From creating the actual visual design of web pages, to developing those pages and writing web applications, to specialized web services like user testing, accessibility experts, social media specialists, and many more - the web profession is one that is very varied and made up of both generalists and specialists.

Of these various job titles, web developers have the best outlook through 2022. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics:

Employment of web developers is projected to grow 20 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations. Demand will be driven by the growing popularity of mobile devices and ecommerce.

Web Design Educational Requirements

Most web designers have at least an associates degree, even if it is in an unrelated field. You will actually find that many web professionals who have been in the industry for many years do not have a formal education in web design.

This is because when they first entered the industry, there was no accredited web design curriculum to take. Today, that has changed, and there are many excellent web design courses to choose from.

Newer web designers entering the field today will be more likely expected to have a degree related to web design in some way. Additionally, whether a web professional is new to the industry or a seasoned veteran, they should have a portfolio or examples of their work to showcase.

If you're approaching web design from the graphic design side, which many people do as they look to add to their repertoire of skills and branch beyond just print design, you'll also want to take these courses and at least get some experience with web site design. The visual design skills that you may already have will serve you well, but an understanding of how to apply those skills to the Web will be critical to your success if you are trying to change careers and do more web-focused work.

Even as newspapers are struggling to maintain readerships, there are more and more jobs for writers focused on the Web.

If you want to get into the web design industry through writing, you should focus on the differences between online and offline writing as well as content strategy. It also helps to understand the basics of search engine findability.

If you have good writing skills, becoming a Web writer is a great way to get into the industry.If you also understand how to build webpages with HTML and CSS, you'll be in higher demand since you will also be able to manage websites.

Web Design Pay

Exact salaries for web designers and developers will depend greatly on their location, with salaries in larger cities like New York or San Francisco generally being much higher than those in smaller areas.